Hepatitis, if not treated in time, is fatal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Pakistan has the second largest burden of hepatitis, with almost 15 million people suffering from hepatitis B or C.
Since many in the country live without getting a diagnosis or treatment, therefore every year there are around 150,000 new cases and 30-35,000 mortalities. Most people catch this infection in healthcare settings without being aware of it.
In Sindh, hepatitis C has grown to 6.1 per cent from 5pc in 2008, whereas hepatitis B prevalence has shown a significant decrease, falling from 2.5pc to 1.05pc over the same period. This has been possible only because of the availability of hepatitis B vaccine.
The major risk factors for the transmission include the use of dangerous (un-sterilised/reused) therapeutic injections, blood transfusion, razor blades and body-piercing equipment. Also among the culprits is inadequate sterilisation of surgical, dental and circumcision equipment in clinical settings. Drug users and thalassaemia patients carry higher risk than others.
A non-profit organisation functioning in marginalised peri-urban squatter settlements noticed during 2020-21 a serious increase in hepatitis C cases among pregnant women. With timely intervention, 42 such cases received complete treatment. The actual disease burden, however, is much higher and needs due attention.
The government in Sindh has launched the Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme (HPCP) which should undertake mass screening, especially in squatter settlements where hepatitis prevalence is rather high.
DR MAHWISH NAIM
KARACHI
